登陆注册
5224900000114

第114章 CAN IT BE DONE,AND HOW?(13)

We may not be priests and Levites,but we can at least play the part of the Good Samaritan.The man who went down to Jericho and fell among thieves was probably a very improvident,reckless individual,who ought to have known better than to go roaming alone through defiles haunted by banditti,whom he even led into temptation by the careless way in which he exposed himself and his goods to their avaricious gaze.

It was,no doubt,largely his own fault that he lay there bruised and senseless,and ready to perish,just as it is largely the fault of those whom we seek to help that they lie in the helpless plight in which we find them.But for all that,let us bind up their wounds with such balm as we can procure,and,setting them on our ass,let us take them to our Colony,where they may have time to recover,and once more set forth on the journey of life.

And now,having said this much by way of reply to some of my critics,I will recapitulate the salient features of the Scheme.I laid down at the beginning certain points to be kept in view as embodying those invariable laws or principles of political economy,without due regard to which no Scheme can hope for even a chance of success.

Subject to these conditions,I think my Scheme will pass muster.

It is large enough to cope with the evils that will confront us;it is practicable,for it is already in course of application,and it is capable of indefinite expansion.But it would be better to pass the whole Scheme in its more salient features in review once more.

The Scheme will seek to convey benefit to the destitute classes in various ways altogether apart from their entering the Colonies.

Men and women maybe very poor and in very great sorrow,nay,on the verge of actual starvation,and yet be so circumstanced as to be unable to enrol themselves in the Colonial ranks.To these our cheap Food Depots,our Advice Bureau,Labour Shops,and other agencies will prove an unspeakable boon,and will be likely by such temporary assistance to help them out of the deep gulf in which they are struggling.

Those who need permanent assistance will be passed on to the City Colony,and taken directly under our control.Here they will be employed as before described.Many will be sent off to friends;work will be found for others in the City or elsewhere,while the great bulk,after reasonable testing as to their sincerity and willingness to assist in their own salvation,will be sent on to the Farm Colonies,where the same process of reformation and training will be continued,and unless employment is otherwise obtained they will then be passed on to the Over-Sea Colony.

All in circumstances of destitution,vice,or criminality will receive casual assistance or be taken into the Colony,on the sole conditions of their being anxious for deliverance,and willing to work for it,and to conform to discipline,altogether irrespective of character,ability,religious opinions,or anything else.

No benefit will be conferred upon any individual except under extraordinary circumstances,without some return being made in labour.

Even where relatives and friends supply money to the Colonists,the latter must take their share of work with their comrades.

We shall not have room for a single idler throughout all our borders.

The labour allotted to each individual will be chosen in view of his past employment or ability.Those who have any knowledge of agriculture will naturally be put to work on the land;the shoemaker will make shoes,the weaver cloth,and so on.And when there is no knowledge of any handicraft,the aptitude of the individual and the necessities of the hour will suggest the sort of work it would be most profitable for such an one to learn.

Work of all descriptions will be executed as far as possible by hand labour.The present rage for machinery has tended to produce much destitution by supplanting hand labour so exclusively that the rush has been from the human to the machine.We want,as far as is practicable,to travel back from the machine to the human.

Each member of the Colony would receive food,clothing,lodging,medicine,and all necessary care in case of sickness.

No wages would be paid,except a trifle by way of encouragement for good behaviour and industry,or to those occupying positions of trust,part of which will be saved in view of exigencies in our Colonial Bank,and the remainder used for pocket money.

The whole Scheme of the three Colonies will for all practical purposes be regarded as one;hence the training will have in view the qualification of the Colonists for ultimately earning their livelihood in the world altogether independently of our assistance,or,failing this,fit them for taking some permanent work within our borders either at home or abroad.

Another result of this unity of the Town and Country Colonies will be the removal of one of the difficulties ever connected with the disposal of the products of unemployed labour.The food from the Farm would be consumed by the City,while many of the things manufactured in the City would be consumed on the Farm.

The continued effort of all concerned in the reformation of these people will be to inspire and cultivate those habits,the want of which has been so largely the cause of the destitution and vice of the past.

Strict discipline,involving careful and continuous oversight,would be necessary to the maintenance of order amongst so large a number of people,many of whom had hitherto lived a wild and licentious life.

Our chief reliance in this respect would be upon the spirit of mutual interest that would prevail.

The entire Colony would probably be divided into sections,each under the supervision of a sergeant--one of themselves--working side by side with them,yet responsible for the behaviour of all.

同类推荐
  • 西夏事略

    西夏事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 梵语千字文并

    梵语千字文并

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Vicar of Wakefield

    The Vicar of Wakefield

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七女观经

    七女观经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 密行忍禅师语录

    密行忍禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 一千零一个国王

    一千零一个国王

    天和地分开以后,盘古怕它们还会合在一起,就头顶天,脚蹬地。天每升高一丈,盘古也随着长高。这样不知过了多少年,天和地逐渐成形,盘古也累得倒了下去。虽然盘古已经不在了,但听说他还有一个弟弟,就藏在天地间的某处。他的大名叫盘瓜,不过他更喜欢人们叫他,盘小瓜。
  • 今生缘分太浅

    今生缘分太浅

    桃花树下,倾城一舞,终是惊艳了时光身为一国公主,怎样?身为圣女,又能如何?,你们要的,我都给,只求把他还给我!为了他们,我负了你,又为了我,我害了你,今生缘分太浅,我终是负了你,来生,只愿做一个平凡人,嫁与你为妻,许你一世情深。
  • 早安,恶魔先生

    早安,恶魔先生

    【甜蜜宠爱】【神秘男主】【男女双洁】【学霸男神】前世她太过单纯,太相信所谓的友情和爱情。放着好好的绝世美男不要,却一心跟着仇人的儿子跑,错将渣男当良人。家族破产,父母被气死,自己也被闺蜜和未婚夫双双背叛,葬身火海!烈火重生,她看清了太多人的嘴脸,弱小的她只想背靠大树好乘凉,守着自己亲人安安稳稳过日子,选择了那个前世她做梦也想逃离的男人,没想到却被宠上了天。
  • 汤姆·索亚历险记

    汤姆·索亚历险记

    《汤姆·索亚历险记》是世界儿童文学中的一部经典作品。这部源于马克·吐温真实童年经历的小说,通过充满童真童趣的语言,讲述了聪明又淘气的汤姆和小镇上的小伙伴们的冒险故事。在枯燥乏味的生活中,他们的所作所为是当时世俗道德和教会戒律所不容的,但几次冒险经历使他们的童年生活多姿多彩、充满生气。
  • 超强全能农民

    超强全能农民

    叶正琮运气差到极点,父亲断腿,大学辍学,回家务农,被雷劈中……终究否极泰来,他得到惊天奇遇……既然务农,那就是最强的农民,种出的东西,都是极品……玄学道术,那都不叫事,风水玄学,拘鬼成仆,小菜一碟……识人相术,道尽天机,逆天改命,也不过如此,他也会……不治绝症,也难不倒他,只要看得顺眼,一出手保证百病全消,健康的不要不要的……他就是超强全能农民叶正琮……
  • 温故念之

    温故念之

    陆瑾之第一次见顾温然,是在机场,她从他的身边走过,轻风吹动了他的衣角而后他们位置挨着,他感觉她有点眼熟
  • 六朝仙侠传

    六朝仙侠传

    起于六朝,始于洪荒.行走在诸天万界,成就在多维宇宙.......
  • 限时抢婚:呆萌替身新娘

    限时抢婚:呆萌替身新娘

    大婚当日,他当着众宾客的面,深情款款的对着她叫着别的女人名字说:“宝儿,我真想化作你无名指上这颗戒指,这样我就能套住你的心一辈子。”这厮人前明明还在走温柔深情硬汉风,谁知道人后邪恶本质被揭露。“不准再去做那种不着调的工作。”“boss大人,你这分明就是职业歧视。我无非动动嘴皮子,而你……”“呵……钱多多,真有你的,你还真是演戏的行家……”话未说完,某人神色诡异的向她逼进……
  • 军中大医:黎介寿 黎磊石合传

    军中大医:黎介寿 黎磊石合传

    有这样两位攀登者,他们的身影频繁闪耀在国际医学舞台上,他们的名字永远镌刻在万千患者心坎里……两位共同走过风雨历程的兄弟院士;两位各自取得辉煌成就的军中名医。一段世界医学史上美妙的传奇;一段中国医学界绝无仅有的佳话。亚洲人同种异体小肠移植鼻祖——黎介寿;中国现代肾脏病学开拓者——黎磊石。
  • 二次元阴阳师

    二次元阴阳师

    穿越Fate世界成为二爷(间桐慎二),首要任务当然是干掉老虫子,救出小樱啦!这是一切的开始,穿越在二次元世界,邂逅心中的女神,与那些前世自己流过泪的妹子相互拯救!Fate圣杯第四战——加速世界千年纪——东京吃货死神影——斗罗大陆魂兽化形——龙族世界耶梦加得——箱庭&幻想乡世界——圣杯第五战——恶魔高校——约会大作战——血界战线——K——龙珠世界——神话版秦时明月——(待添加)——上苍之上:他化无限,他化世界。无限的穿梭之旅,从《二次元阴阳师》开始!书友群:584559491。